Mahmudullah's retirement marks the final exit of fab five

For nearly two decades, five cricketers stood as the pillars of Bangladesh cricket namely-Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad. Dubbed the "Pancha Pandavas" or "Fabulous Five" their collective presence transformed Bangladesh from a team of hopefuls into a formidable force in international cricket. 
Their contributions, resilience and leadership led Bangladesh to historic victories and memorable moments. However, as of March 12, 2025, the journey of these five cricketing titans together has officially come to an end marking the close of an era in Bangladesh cricket.

The disintegration of the Fabulous Five began in 2020 with Mashrafe's informal retirement from international cricket. The country's most successful ODI captain had already been sidelined from the T20 and Test squads. His exit, though never formally announced, signaled the beginning of a slow but inevitable transition.
Following Mashrafe's departure, the remaining four began stepping away from the international stage one by one. Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh's most prolific opening batter, left in dramatic fashion. His retirement saga was a series of twists and turns. First a self-imposed six-month break in January 2022, then an abrupt T20i retirement after a series win against the West Indies. The climax came in July 2023, when he announced his complete retirement in a tearful press conference during the Afghanistan series. However, political and administrative complications within the BCB led to further controversies surrounding his return. Ultimately Tamim confirmed his permanent exit from international cricket via a social media post on January 10, 2025. 

Mushfiqur Rahim followed suit with a more measured approach. On September 4, 2022, he retired from T20i format through a Facebook post. His departure from ODIs was similarly understated as it was announced on the night of March 5, 2025 via social media. Despite stepping away from limited-overs cricket, Mushfiqur has expressed his intent to continue in the Test format, making him the last standing member of the legendary quintet in any form of international cricket.

Mahmudullah Riyad's departure was scattered across formats. His Test career ended in July 2021 in unusual fashion as he announced his retirement to his teammates in the dressing room during Bangladesh's Test match against Zimbabwe in Harare. On the final day, he received a guard of honour but no official statement followed. He formally retired from T20i cricket in October 2024 declaring his final game against India. Despite continuing in ODIs, he was given only a single match in the ICC Champions Trophy, where a disappointing performance led to sharp criticism. Eventually, he stepped away from international cricket altogether bringing down the curtain on an understated but invaluable career.

While the rest of the Fabulous Five have exited on their own terms, Shakib Al Hasan remains in a state of uncertainty. A long-standing top all-rounder across all formats, Shakib's career has been shadowed by controversy particularly in his later years. His involvement in politics as a Member of Parliament from the Awami League created friction between cricket and governance. In July 2024, during Bangladesh's nationwide movement, he remained conspicuously silent, which led to public backlash. Now, with no confirmed return to the national team, Shakib stands at a crossroads as he is unable to formally retire yet seemingly distanced from the cricketing arena.

Cricket in Bangladesh will move forward but the echoes of Mashrafe's leadership, Shakib's brilliance, Tamim's aggression, Mushfiqur's grit, and Mahmudullah's composure will forever resonate in the hearts of fans. The 'Fabulous Five' have bid farewell but their legacy remains immortal.